February 22, 2014 - On Friday, February 21, the University filed a motion with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C. to deny the SEIU’s appeal to impound the ballots cast in the adjunct faculty’s union election. In a separate action, the Regional Director reversed its earlier decision to allow the election to proceed and without waiting for the NLRB’s input decided the ballots should remain impounded until the union’s ULPs are reviewed.

The University maintains that the SEIU’s charges are baseless and its actions represent an unfortunate attempt to avoid the possibility of losing the election. Here are the facts:

When the SEIU first filed its charges on Jan. 23, it requested the NLRB to allow the election to proceed, despite the University’s alleged unlawful conduct. The Regional Director agreed.

Two weeks later, and more than a week after the ballots had been sent out, the SEIU reversed course.

With no additional charges or facts to support its allegations, it requested the Regional Director to stop the election and cancel the scheduled ballot count.

The Regional Director refused the SEIU’s request and ordered the election to proceed.

The SEIU appealed the decision to the NLRB.

The Regional Director reversed its decision without the NLRB’s input and decided that the ballots should remain impounded.

The voting unit has spoken. We believe it’s time for their voices to be heard.

We will be certain to provide updates as soon as we receive additional information.